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Saturday, December 31, 2016

Authors for Authors will sponsor a Writers' Conference: Write, Publish, Sell! on March 26, 2017, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Hosted at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, Fl 32901. This is an opportunity for new and experienced writers to learn how to write better, publish more, and market effectively to increase book sales. There will be 25+ presentations by multi-published successful authors, 20+ vendors with books and related services available, 16 genre discuss groups to choose from and networking with authors, editors, and publishers.

Learn strategies that will help you live up to your potential from an expert in organizational and motivational techniques. Dr. Howard has been inspiring and training individuals and organizations throughout the country to succeed, excel, and reach the right audience for their creative work. Applicable for all writers.

Winter Park, FL (October 24, 2016) On January 19th, Writer’s Block Bookstore will host author Beatriz Williams at the First Congregational Church in Winter Park, Florida.Beatriz Williams will be promoting her latest novel Wicked City

New York Times Bestselling Author Beatriz Williams recreates the New York City of A Certain Age in this deliciously spicy adventure that mixes past and present and centers on a Jazz Age love triangle involving a rugged Prohibition agent, a saucy redheaded flapper, and a debonair Princetonian from a wealthy family.

When she discovers her husband cheating, Ella Hawthorne impulsively moves out of their SoHo loft and into a small apartment in an old Greenwich Village building. Her surprisingly attractive new neighbor, Hector, warns her to stay out of the basement at night. Tenants have reported strange noises after midnight—laughter, clinking glasses, jazz piano—even though the space has been empty for decades. Back in the Roaring Twenties, the place hid a speakeasy.

In 1924, Geneva “Gin” Kelly, a smart-mouthed flapper from the hills of western Maryland, is a regular at this Village hideaway known as the Christopher Club. Caught up in a raid, Gin becomes entangled with Prohibition enforcement agent Oliver Anson, who persuades her to help him catch her stepfather Duke Kelly, one of Appalachia’s most notorious bootleggers.

Headstrong and independent, Gin is no weak-kneed fool. So how can she be falling in love with the taciturn, straight-arrow Revenue agent when she’s got Princeton boy Billy Marshall, the dashing son of society doyenne Theresa Marshall, begging to make an honest woman of her? While anything goes in the Roaring Twenties, Gin’s adventures will shake proper Manhattan society to its foundations, exposing secrets that shock even this free-spirited redhead—secrets that will echo from Park Avenue to the hollers of her Southern hometown.

As Ella discovers more about the basement speakeasy, she becomes inspired by the spirit of her exuberant predecessor, and decides to live with abandon in the wicked city too . . .

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author, Beatriz Williams A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA from Columbia, Beatriz spent several years in New York and London hiding her early attempts at fiction, first on company laptops as a communications strategy consultant, and then as an at-home producer of small persons before her career as a writer took off. She lives with her husband and four children near the Connecticut shore.

For those who are hoping to pre-order The Wicked City can be directed to the following link:

A community bookstore in your neighborhood. We have been located off of Park Ave for almost two years and have been bringing your favorite authors into town. We curate our stock based on the community’s wants and needs, but always have the latest releases. We have your favorite book.

On January 29th, Writer’s Block Bookstore will host authors Heather Graham and Jon Land at the Winter Park Public Library in Winter Park, Florida. They will be promoting their newest novel, The Rising.

This January, Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, is thrilled to announce the forthcoming availability of THE RISING by acclaimed thriller-suspense novelists Heather Graham and Jon Land. An addictive read, this is a story of action, mystery, the endurance of young love, and how quickly two lives can be changed forever.

Alex Chin, football hero and homecoming king, has the world on a plate. His tutor, Samantha Dixen, plans to turn her NASA internship into a career. But when a football accident lands Alex in the hospital, Alex’s world is turned upside down. His doctor is murdered, then, his parents. Feeling death’s pursuit, Alex flees.

Racing to stay ahead of his attackers, Alex and Samantha seek to unravel the mystery buried deep in Alex’s past, a secret his parents died to protect.

HEATHER GRAHAM is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Shemajored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult and Christmas family fare. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, RT Book Reviews, and more. Visit her online at theoriginalheathergraham.com.

JON LAND is the USA Today bestselling author of thirty-eight novels, including the best-selling series featuring female Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong. He is also the co-author of the nonfiction best-seller Betrayal. He lives in Provence, Rhode Island and can be found on the web at jonlandbooks.com.

On January 16th, Books at Park Place in St Petersburg is hosting the book launch for MURDER ON THE MULLET EXPRESS. Gwen Mayo and Sarah Glenn, the authors, will be signing copies of the book and reading excerpts from 3 PM to 6 PM.

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

What mysteries will the colonists uncover on this slowly thawing planet? Are they alone? This planet is supposed to be theirs. What lies under the snow and ice? And beyond their colony?Note: Adult content

From the Author

I enjoy settling planets (Velvet of Swords) and the frontier (Detour Trail). Cold New Planet was originally published in an anthology, Science Fiction Consortium (2014).

About the AuthorJoy V. Smith has been writing stories since she was a kid. Her stories and articles have been published in print magazines, ezines, and anthologies; and her SF has been published in two audiobooks, including Sugar Time. Her SF books include Strike Three; Sugar Time; two collections of her published short stories: The Doorway and Other Stories and Aliens, Animals, and Adventure; and three SF ebooks: Hidebound, Pretty PinkPlanet, and Hot Yellow Planet (the sequel).

Winter Park, FL (December 14, 2016) On December 16, Writer's Block Bookstore will host authors David James Poissant and Paula Whyman most notable for their short story collections, The Heaven of Animals (David James Poissant) and You May See a Stranger (Paula Whyman). The event will be DECEMBER 16 from 6PM – 8PM

David James Poissant’s is the author of The Heaven of Animals. Poissant’s stories and essays have appeared in The Atlantic, The Chicago Tribune, Glimmer Train, The New York Times, and many more. His writing has been awarded the Matt Clark Prize, the George Garrett Fiction Award, the RopeWalk Fiction Chapbook Prize, the GLCA New Writers Award, and the Alice White Reeves Memorial Award from the National Society of Arts & Letters, as well as awards from The Chicago Tribune and The Atlantic Monthly. He teaches in the MFA program at the University of Central Florida and lives in Orlando with his wife and daughters.

Paula Whyman is the author of You May See A Stranger, a linked story collection that won praise from The New Yorker and a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Her stories have appeared in journals including McSweeney’s Quarterly, Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, The Hudson Review, and The Southampton Review.

Event will take place December 16 from 6pm – 8pm at Writer’s Block Bookstore

For those who are hoping to pre-order The Heaven of Animals and You May See a Stranger can be directed to the following link:

A community bookstore in your neighborhood. We have been located off of Park Ave for almost two years and have been bringing your favorite authors into town. We curate our stock based on the community’s wants and needs, but always have the latest releases. We have your favorite book.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Booksignings-------------------Wed Jan 4 at 7 pm. Tom Gabor will speak and sign Confronting Gun Violence in America $30.00Fri Jan 6, 6 - 9 pm. Murder on the Beach 20th Anniversary Party. Featured authors will be Andrew Gross, Hank Phillippi Ryan, PJ Parrish and Charles Todd. Free book with every purchase.Wed Jan 10 at 630 pm. Womens National Book Association meeting with Cynthia Thomason speaking on What makes a Hero? Free for members, $10 non-members.Fri Jan 13 at 7 pm. John Keyes-Walker will speak and sign Sun, Sand and Murder 24.99.Sun Jan 15 at 5 pm. Brad Taylor will be interviewed by Oline Cogdill, and sign his new book Ring of Fire 27.00.Thu Jan 26 at 7 pm. Heather Graham and Jon Land will speak and sign their new book The Rising 25.99.Fri Jan 27 at 7 pm. Florida History Panel moderated by Eliot Kleinberg. Seth Bramson will sign The Greatest Railroad Story Ever Told 19.99, James Clark will sign The Hidden History of Florida 21.99, and Elizabeth Randall will sign Murder in St Augustine 21.99.Sat Jan 28 at 6 pm. Susan Crawford will speak and sign The Other Widow 15.99.

Book Clubs-----------------Tue Jan 17 at 6:30 pm. The Tuesday Murder Club will discuss One Rough Man by Brad Taylor 9.99.Sun Jan 22 at 3 pm. The Sunday Sleuths Book Club will discuss Bruno Chief of Police 15.95.

Coming in February---------------------------Fri Feb 3 at 7 pm. MCV Egan will speak and sign Death of a Sculptor 9.99.Tue Feb 7 at 7 pm. Tim Dorsey will speak and sign Clownfish Blues 26.99

Thursday, December 8, 2016

"MURDER
ON THE MULLET EXPRESS is an action-packed crime caper set during the
Florida Land Boom, as bootleggers, mobsters and grifters galore feed on
the dreams of sun-seekers. Teddy and Cornelia, well-nigh unshockable
after their WWI tours of nursing duty, are at full stretch as it is -
wrangling their eccentric Uncle Percy, when a murder hijacks their trip
and throws them in at the deep end. Truly original and tremendous fun
with a big heart. Make that two big hearts."

Catriona McPherson, Agatha, Anthony and Lefty-winning author of the Edgar-nominated THE CHILD GARDEN.

It’s
1926. The West Coast Development Company is staging its biggest land
deal in Homosassa, Florida, selling pieces of a planned city to
speculators who dream of a tropical paradise. Army nurse Cornelia
Pettijohn takes leave to travel to Florida with her ancient uncle, who
claims that he wants a warm winter home. When their car breaks down,
they take the local train, The Mullet Express, into Homosassa. By the
time they arrive, though, a passenger has been poisoned. A second murder
victim boards the train later, iced down with the fish. Uncle
Percival’s hidden agenda makes him the sheriff’s prime suspect. Cornelia
and Teddy Lawless, a twenty-year-old flapper in a body pushing sixty,
must chase mobsters and corner suspects to dig her uncle out of the hole
he’s dug for himself.

Gwen Mayo, author of the Nessa Donnelly
mysteries, and humorist Sarah Glenn, editor of the Strangely Funny
anthologies, have joined together to bring you this tale of swindles,
schemes, and murder. They belong to the First Florida Chapter of the
Historical Novel Society and the Florida Gulf Coast chapter of Sisters
in Crime.

Wanda published her first children's book, The Lilac Princess, in 2014. Next, came her wonderful tale of Tad, in A Turtles Magical Adventure published, March 2016. In August 2016, she debuted Little Birdie Grows Up which is her first picture book.

Wanda Luthman has her Masters of Arts in both Mental Health Counseling and Guidance Counseling from Rollins College located in beautiful Winter Park, Florida. She worked at a local Community Mental Health Center for 10 years before transferring to the Public School System as a Guidance Counselor. She’s worked at a High School for the past 19 years. She has also been an Adjunct Professor at the local Community College and worked with teens who had lost a loved one through Hospice. She has always loved reading and writing and wrote many books and poems as a child growing up in Missouri. She presently resides in Brevard County Florida with her husband of 21 years and 2 dogs. Her daughter is away at college, like Little Birdie, she has left the nest.

From the Author

“I want to inspire young children to be the best people they can be. If I can capture children's imaginations and entertain them, then the underlying positive character message will come through in each of my books.”

A Turtle’s Magical Adventure is a charming, heart-warming story of a turtle who doesn’t like his shell because it makes him too slow. Tad asks other slow animals if they also mind being slow. Each one gives an answer that helps Tad feel better, but, still, he wants to be fast. He happens upon a snake who tells him there is a wizard that can make him fast. He goes on an adventure into The Magical Timberwood Forest to meet the wizard and hopefully get his wish fulfilled. He encounters delightful, magical creatures along the way but also meets with danger and choices. Will Tad get his wish or will the wizard turn him into turtle soup?

Quotes from reviews

“This is such a cute and lovable story. Perfect bedtime reading to the little ones.”

“This is an excellent children's book full of life lessons.”

“This is a captivating story about Tad, a turtle; who has a perplexing problem to solve.”

Friday, December 2, 2016

They used to tell stories about Shangri-La, a land of peace and prosperity hidden in the heights of the Himalayas. In the adventure that lies ahead, Janet Locke doesn’t find the mythical city, but she does find a new, joyous existence up on the roof of the world.

It starts with phone call. An old friend wants to know if Janet wants to join her on a bicycling trip through Bhutan. Janet knows absolutely nothing about the small, central-Asian country. When she looks it up on the Internet, she learns that its gross national product is happiness. Janet, frustrated with life’s challenging moments, decides that this sounds delightful. After a quick stop in Thailand, Janet is on to Bhutan. She falls in love with the charming country. As Janet ventures out into the wilderness surrounding the awe-inspiring Himalayas, she learns lessons about the many worries she carries. Like so many others, this journey will change her life. In Janet’s adventure, author Dr. Frances Rinaldi mixes several spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Catholicism, and Algonquin and Lakota spirituality. Together, they inspire Janet to let go of her worries and be happy and free.

Dr. Rinaldi based her work, Buddha, Christ and the Eagle on her own adventures while bicycling in the Himalayan Mountains of Bhutan. She is an award-winning author, storyteller, and health coach. She has written a collection of short stories called Night Walk, a children’s book, How Silver Fox and Coyote Came to Color the Butterfly. Under the penname F.R. Merrill, she wrote The Final Act, Crossroads, and Murder in Mosaic, a set of suspense thrillers known as the Straton Trilogy. Crossroads was a prizewinner in the Southwestern Book Festival, and Murder in Mosaic won in the Amsterdam Book Festival.

Acclaimed novelist Jane Jordan takes readers on an unforgettable journey deep into the heart of 19th century Exmoor in England in her latest novel, The Beekeeper’s Daughter. An exquisitely crafted dark thriller, The Beekeeper’s Daughter is a sensational—and sensationally suspenseful—supernatural tale about a dangerous love triangle, a devastating betrayal, a shocking realization—and the ultimate battle between good and evil.

About the book: Beekeeper’s daughter Annabel Taylor grows up wild and carefree on the moors of England in the late 1860s. A child of nature and grace with an unusual ability to charm bees, Annabel follows in the footstep of her mother Lilith, a beautiful witch. With her closest friend and soulmate Jevan Wenham by her side, Annabel’s life is a life filled with wonder and curiosity. But Jevan, the son of a blacksmith, lives his life on the verge of destruction, and his devotion to Annabel probes the boundaries between brutality and deep desire, passion and pleasure. When Jevan leaves Exmoor to pursue an education in London, Annabel’s world shatters. Devastated without Jevan, Annabel is sure her life is ending. But everything changes when she crosses paths with Alexander Saltonstall. The heir to the Saltonstall legacy and son of Cerberus Saltonstall, the wealthy landowner of the foreboding Gothelstone Manor, Alex is arrogant and self-assured—and enamored of the outspoken Annabel. Even though the two are socially worlds apart, that doesn’t stop Alex from asking, or rather demanding, Annabel’s hand in marriage. But when Annabel refuses, she is forced into an impossible situation. To further complicate matters, Jevan is back—and so are those same desires, that same passion and intensity. But nothing is as it seems, and Annabel and Jevan are in grave danger. At risk of being ensnared into the dark legacy of the Saltonstall family, Annabel faces the ultimate test. Will her fledgling powers be enough to save those she loves most? Can she even save herself?

Beautifully written and brimming with historical detail, The Beekeeper’s Daughter is resplendent with irresistible whimsy, richly-developed characters, and a captivating storyline. A mesmerizing and magnificent tale, The Beekeeper’s Daughter charms with its magical setting, thrills with its pulse-quickening plotlines, and buzzes with romance, suspense, and intrigue. Smart and swiftly-paced, this exquisite supernatural thriller is enchanting.

Jane Jordan grew up in Essex, England and spent six years in the South West of England living on Exmoor. A trained horticulturist, Jane worked and volunteered for Britain’s National Trust at Exmoor’s 1000-year-old Dunster Castle. The atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and ancient history of the place inspired Jane’s first novel, Ravens Deep, the debut release in her gothic vampire trilogy, which also included Blood & Ashes and A Memoir of Carl. Jane Jordan lives in Southwest Florida. Visit Jane Jordan online at: www.janejordannovelist.com

Founded in 2010, Black Opal Books is a traditional publisher of an eclectic mix of titles. Black Opal Books (www.blackopalbooks.com) is based in the Pacific Northwest. Members of the news media wishing to request additional information about Jane Jordan of The Beekeeper’s Daughter are kindly asked to contact Maryglenn McCombs by phone: (615) 297-9875 or email: maryglenn@maryglenn.com

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About Me

Lou Belcher enjoys drawing, painting and writing and loves developing paintings in mixed media that will bring a smile to your face. She has a passion for whimsy. In addition to painting and writing, Most recently she has begun to spend time writing and studying health issues.